Bush is the Next Reagan

Persian Journal ^ | Jun 4, 2006 | Slater Bakhtavar

[nuconvert]

Bush is the Next Reagan

Jun 4, 2006

Slater Bakhtavar - Persian Journal

The same people who heavily criticized former President Reagan for his tough stance against Communism and for his aggressive push for democracy in Eastern Europe are now attacking President Bush for his tough stance against fundamentalism and his aggressive push for democracy in the Middle East.

-They argued then that Communism would never fall - it did They argue now that Islamic Fundamentalism will never fall - it will

-They argued then that the Soviet Union is too strong - it wasn't

They argue now that the insurgency is too strong - it isn't

-They argued that Reagans vision of democracy in East Europe would never work - it did

They argue now that Bushs vision of democracy for the mid-east would never work - it will

They argued then that Reagans evil empire speech was a failure - it wasn't

They argue now that Bushs axis of evil speech is a failure - it won't be

-They argued then that former soviet bloc countries wouldn't embrace democracy - they did

They argue now that middle east countries would never embrace democracy - they will

-They argued then that Eastern Europeans nations would never be our allies - they are

They argue now that middle eastern countries will never be our allies - they will be

-They argued then that people without God could never embrace democracy - they did

They argue now that Muslims will never embrace democracy - they will

-They argued then that President Reagan was unrealistic - he wasn't

They argue now that President Bush is unrealistic - he'll prove he isn't

-They argued then democracy isn't universal to former Communists - it was

They argue now democracy isn't universal to Middle Easterners - it will be

-They argued then that funding of pro-democracy groups in Eastern European countries won't work - it did

They argue now that funding of pro-democracy groups won't work in the Middle East - it will

The same exact critcism was directed at Reagan. The future will be the judge of President Bush and my guess is that he will be judged as the Great Liberator of the Middle East.

[Txsleuth]

From what I have read...REAGAN did't even make a point of enforcing his own bill, re: employers.

[ohioWfan]

For some of us, that's more important than having Ted Kennedy fear him.....

He is PUBLIC ENEMY #1 to the pro-abortion gang. And there's a good reason for that.

President Bush is accomplishing conservative things, ten. BIG conservative things.

[AFPhys]

Though I'm in here late on this thread, I want to agree with you about how some things Reagan did was looked at by people like me who didn't really appreciate his "art of the possible" tendency.

In addition to the immigration situation, which persisted before him and through many Congress sessions where it ought to have been dealt with, I was rather upset as some items like:

1. Failure to insist that Congress implement a full 30% tax cut immediately and allowing them to phase in a 25% cut over three stupid years. I still believe he had the hammer and that he ought to have used it.
2. Failure to veto the outta sight spending domestic spending bills Congress continually sent him and that were the cause of the deficit that persisted until 1995.
3. A MAJOR FAILURE in allowing Congress to make the absolutely stupid changes to the capital gains rules which changed real estate valuation in a very predictable way and gave rise inevitably to the Savings & Loan crisis several years later.
4. Disappointment that he didn't work harder to get Jack Kemp's flat tax plan ("Do your taxes on a postcard") a fair hearing in the public arena.
5. Some foreign affairs issues more obscure, but they nagged at me constantly.
6. Energy independence needed to be promoted by espousing more nuclear energy and starting an Apollo-type program aimed at commercial nuclear fusion as soon as possible. That still needs to be done, but we're nitpicking away at this by "joining international efforts" which are rather measly compared to the magnitude of gain when this is finally achieved.
7. I hated his Supreme Court appointment of O'Conner right from the get-go. He could have made much better choices and the Senate would have finally passed them. I had no idea of Kennedy (LOVED Scalia). Since about 1972, I've felt that is the most critical area in politics to be concerned about, and O'Conner was too politically correct a choice, and there were much stronger candidates than Kennedy.
8. I almost forgot: his choice of Bush as VP was atrocious, and that he didn't ask him to leave after one term was equally poor. It was unfathomable to me that he didn't groom Kemp or one of the other spectacular conservatives to follow him in office, and instead chose Bush, who had very few conservative bones in his body. Bush'43 must have gotten many of his genes from his mom.

Reagan was not perfect, and even a true lover of him, and believer in most of what he was doing and accomplishing at the time like me, found areas that we believed he could have done even better in. I criticized him, but found more areas of agreement with him than any other President up until this President Bush.

[RFEngineer]

"Reagan and conservatism are dead"

I disagree. While Reagan has passed, conservatism is merely in limbo. When Republicans want to succeed again then they will rediscover it, unless it finds a way to be expressed politically some other way.

[ohioWfan]

Will you also concede that President Bush's economic policy has brought on great prosperity?

[NordP]

Thank the Lord above that George W. Bush was elected President when he was...and that he still is our President in these backbone-required times.

Dear Lord, keep him safe and alert.

see tagline

[BW2221]

"Newt got "BORKED" by RINOS in 95'..."

Newt "BORKED" himself by not being able to control his personal dealings.

[Mo1]

You're actually saying that Newt wasn't effectively finished by the end of '95. Why don't you tell me what he accomplished after '95.

With the exception the Budget show down and Clinton's Impeachment .. not a whole lot

Remember, Newit was a target by the left and they went after him every chance they could

[patriciaruth]

The Clintons had dirt on Newt.

That is why he was beaten by the Clintons and that is why he resigned.

[AFPhys]

I disagree with you.

And so do the majority of Iraqis.

[NordP]

And no where else would be be better written, than by you, my friend!

[tennmountainman]

I know this, Reagan swept in by larger margins a GOP Senate, as you has so nicely educated me. I know Reagan carried every state except Modales state.

Thats 49. I may be a fifth grader, but I can count.

How many states did Bush carry?

[TypeZoNegative]

They forgot 2 comparisons. They both spent like drunken saliors and they both gave amnesty to illegal immigrants.

[nuconvert]

"Thank the Lord above that George W. Bush was elected President when he was...and that he still is our President in these backbone-required times"

Amen

[nopardons]

Reagan did NOT cut government at all.

[RFEngineer]

"Will you also concede that President Bush's economic policy has brought on great prosperity?"

Ask me in 20 years. Reagans economic philosophy and prosperity has lasted that long.

I fully support and give credit to lower taxes that Bush passed. But lower taxes did not make Reagan great, nor will they make Bush great.

[Txsleuth]

You debate like a dem....you hypothesize and when you are questioned about something you said, you parse the words to make them fit into your theory..

How clever..

[MikefromOhio]

I never thought I'd say this, but we need to leave Iraq to whatever outcome happens. Iraq can be handled by the Iraqi's.

And if you knew anything about the situation, you wouldn't be saying that. You know damn good and well that once AQ wins in Iraq (and at this point they would), they'd be right back at the US in an instant. To allow that to happen would be absolutely RETARDED. Glad you aren't in charge. We'd have AQ coming out of our ears.

[tennmountainman]

Tell me a couple of conservative things he's accomplished. I can't think of any.
I can think of conservative things he's talked about, but can't think of any laws that have passed.
He's been in office 6 years has the gay marriage issue been turned into law?

[nuconvert]

What's with this spending and budget complaint?
Things changed after 9/11 and lots of money had to be spent that no one could have foreseen.
Give it a rest.